No More Aid: Trump attacks Pakistan in first tweet of 2018, Pakistan hit back

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump tweeted on Monday that the United States had foolishly given Pakistan over $33 billion in aid over the last 15 years.

In his tweet, Trump accused Pakistan of given nothing but lies and deceit thinking US leaders to be fools. “They give safe havens to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!”

The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more!

Khawaja Asif has responded to US President Donald Trump’s recent statement, saying Pakistan is ready to publicise each and every detail of the aid received by the US.

After Trump’s tweet, the foreign minister met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and held a detailed review of the statement.

“Pakistan has already told the US that we will not do more, so Trump’s ‘no more’ does not hold any importance,” said Asif responding to Trump after the meeting.

Trumps’s disappointment at the failure of US policy in Afghanistan is the only reason why he is levelling accusations on Pakistan, he continued.

Time for Afghanistan, US to ‘do more’

In a news conference held on 28 December, Pakistan’s Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghaffor stated no organised infrastructure of a terrorist organisation exists in Pakistan. His statement was in reference to the unfounded talk by the US and Afghanistan on the presence of terrorist bases in Pakistan.

“We have been saying that Pakistan has fought twice an imposed and imported war inside Pakistan. We have sacrificed a lot. We have paid a huge price both in blood and treasure. We have done enough and we cannot do any more for anyone. Whatever we are doing and shall, will only be done for Pakistan.”

The spokesperson clarified that the Coalition Support Fund, received from the US, is reimbursement of money spent for operations in support of the coalition for regional peace.

“Had we not supported, al-Qaeda would not have been defeated,” the ISPR chief stated.

Politicians react to Trump’s statement

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman reacted strongly to Trump’s statement saying the US is making Pakistan a target of its confusion and uncertainty.

Coalition support funds has NEVER been counted as AID in any accounting by Pakistan, nor will it be seen as part of assistance. It was compensation on expenses incurred re joint action on border. Other “Aid” we should indeed talk about, because Pk never charged for NATO traffic